Korean Air announced on the 3rd that it has completed the second phase of the Korean Urban Air Mobility (K-UAM) Grand Challenge demonstration project. This is the first case in South Korea to verify the stable operation of the UAM integrated management system over the metropolitan area.
The second phase of the K-UAM Grand Challenge demonstration project was conducted from the 16th to the 31st of last month over a 12-day period in the demonstration area along the Ara Waterway between Seo-gu and Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, covering an airspace of 44.57 square kilometers.
Korean Air, along with Incheon International Airport Corporation and KT, simultaneously obtained the status of the nation’s first UAM traffic management demonstration operator on the 16th of last month. In this project, Korean Air participated as the main operator for UAM traffic management and operation control.
Korean Air carried out tasks such as risk reduction from low-altitude flights in urban areas, the transfer of control authority between different traffic management systems to operate multiple operators and routes, and ensuring operational stability in abnormal situations through simulations of unexpected scenarios.
A representative from Korean Air stated, “By incorporating our long-standing know-how in aircraft operation, we have proven the performance of the self-developed ‘ACROSS (Air Control & Routing Orchestrated Skyway System).’ ACROSS efficiently manages complex flight schedules by real-time monitoring of UAM flight paths to optimize traffic flow and providing alternative routes in emergency situations.”
Korean Air plans to continue collaborating to achieve the goal of commercializing UAM domestically and contribute to building the UAM ecosystem. Through research and development projects led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, they plan to carry out advancements, including the automation of the ‘ACROSS’ system.
Meanwhile, the K-UAM Grand Challenge is a government-level demonstration project aimed at commercializing UAM domestically by verifying operational stability and establishing standards. Korean Air is part of the ‘K-UAM One Team’ consortium, which includes Incheon International Airport Corporation, KT, Hyundai Motor, and Hyundai Construction.